I could do a fancy OOC screen here, I could do a TL;DR, but I decided to start as I mean to go on, and that is with prose. So here is basically a quick outline/summary of the RP, as well as any guidelines that players (that I shall hereafter refer to as writers) may want to to into consideration before applying/writing a Character Sheet.

So, let's begin.

It is current year in the 40,000 universe, that being circa one-hundred-and-eleven in the forty-second millennium. The Indomitus Crusade continues, most of the forces focused around the planets of Ultramar (see: The Plague Wars), while the warp-wall known as the Cicatrix Maledictum has torn the galaxy in twain; from this one event has occurred events that many would never even have dreamt of, subversions and corruptions galore, and all the while the Imperium of Man fights to stave off what many see as an inevitable decline and defeat.

With the arguable 'victory' of the Thirteenth Black Crusade, but the undeniable destruction of Cadia – and therefore any hope of immediate defence against the hordes from the Eye of Terror – the forces of Chaos are free to enter as they will, daemonic spawn and traitors one and all.

This is where you, the writers, come in!

My intentions for this roleplay are to make it a long-term and dedicated exercise in writing and character building, writers focusing on things other than some of the usual ego-trips found in other role plays.

To this end there are a couple of things to note.



What about the actual narrative? Well.

Each character has sworn allegiance to the Despoiler in his beneficence, even mocked as you are by veterans of the Long War, called 'thin-bloods' and 'milk-bloods', seen as half-Marines and diluted representations of what a true Astartes should. At least in their eyes.

Nevertheless casualties among the forces of the Legion have been high, and Abaddon has deigned it necessary to allow the entry of lesser Marines in order to fill out the numbers, splitting them into a number of differing formations.

Your own formation is 'The Seventy-Second Warband of Drex Nahal', the aforementioned Drex being a legionnaire of no small experience, hailing from the former Sixteenth Legion (Sons of Horus) but now serving the Warmaster.

We begin the tale in orbit above a planet in the Golgothan Wastes near the Maelstrom, Abaddon having sent the renegades of the Seventy-Second to secure the planet and a supposedly potent artefact to be found there...

Much like the Guild has resurfaced, so too shall the servants of Chaos! Death to the Corpse-Emperor.

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Working on a CS right now

Most excellent! I look forward to seeing it.

I've been wanting something like this for so long. Time to break the black legion books out again!

I've been wanting something like this for so long. Time to break the black legion books out again!

Oh yes, I can't actually express how much I love them (the books that is, I find the Legion themselves to be pants.) Those and the Night Lords trilogy are what actually motivate me to even begin RPs such as this one, showing that Astartes in general aren't just one-dimensional plodding blocks of muscle.

@Jbcool I've got the core details for my character down but am having some trouble thinking of a way for them to actually seek out the black legion to join them without getting killed by them on sight. Would my marine turning on his chapter brothers, getting his ass kicked and being left for dead before being scooped up by legion scavengers work? Probably tortured by Drex or his people some more before being given the offer of join or die. Im working with the I of my guy being a company champion before he went rogue so they might think of him as a potentially useful asset.

P.S. The night lords books were great. First Claw are precious angels. Will deffo be looking to Talos and Iskander for inspiration.

@Dogematix I'm never sure why folks can't think of a reason, but here's my take on it. Others can take a look at this too, if they wish.

Think of this;

You are a transhuman super-weapon built for war, your entire life has been spent in service to a space-Nazi Imperium and cult, and your only 'real goal' in life is to die for that cause and that Imperium in the name of an Emperor you have never seen.

Now think of the various renegades we know of - Red Corsairs, Relictors, Blood Knights, Soul Drinkers, Crimson Slaughter - each had turned renegade for various reasons, but the two we can look at the most are thus; some form of 'betrayal' by the Imperium they served, or some form of 'release' from their ingrained and self-imposed/reinforced shackles.

The Mantis Warriors took part in the Badab Rebellion along with the not-yet-Red-Corsairs, revolting against what they saw as encroachment upon Astartes sovereignty and too much Inquisitorial/other interference. The thirty or so Chapters of the doomed Abyssal Crusade were sent into the warp with the backing of the High Lords - the actual instigator being a Chaos corrupt cleric! The Relictors and Blood Knights are 'renegades' because the Imperium declared them Excommunicate Traitoris and forced them out.

By whole Chapters or by tens or singularly, renegade Astartes become so mostly because - at their very core - they are still only human. Perhaps they get a wee taste of power and enjoy it too much, maybe they finally start seeing baseline humans as worthless and wonder why they're even bothering to protect them if they can't protect themselves, possibly they are influenced by Chaos or - in extreme cases, much like the Traitor Legions - events transpire that drive them to throw off their loyalties and old ties.

I realise this doesn't have much to do with your post, as I'm sure you've got it worked out already, but I feel it is good to remind people sometimes.

Now, as to your actual question, why would they shoot him on sight? If he declares himself a renegade, swears loyalty to the Despoiler and paints his armour black, then he's as good as done. He could just as easily walk up to the nearest Legion patrol, transmitting his changed loyalties, and be fine. Maybe he also need to pass some initiation tests?

The whole basis of this RP is that Legionnaires, true Long War vets, are a finite resource and there'd be no reason for Abaddon not to simply take on 'other' traitors. After busting out of the Eye, he'd likely be in need of all the renegades, Alien mercenaries and traitor Guard that he could find, if he wishes to keep a foothold.

In short; the idea you have is fine, as is any torture/testing he is given, and although the experience he would have as a Champion would surely serve him well, the fact he is nevertheless a pale imitation of a 'true Astartes' will sadly see him lumped in with the rest of us. :D

@DrunkasaurusRex@Ollumhammersong

If anyone else wishes to join, then please do! I'm not going to make this a massive group RP, but between 4-8 would be perfectly fine methinks.

Yeah the issue was more the logistics. I'd thought up a couple reasons for him already but thanks for clearing it up, I wanted to make sure I didn't go about it in a way that breaks the lore and it turns out it's a lot easier than I thought to join the other team :p You have given me some interesting things to think about in refining the sheet though.

Once I get the chance I think I'll stick with a renegade from the Howling Griffons and use the various antics the chapter gets up to on their home world as the starting off point for his dissolution.

One of the easiest things to do in warhammer is turn to chaos. Its an infamously easy process. If it wasnt, then orginizations like the inquisition would need to exist because the problem would practically be solved on its own.

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@Dogematix You still up for this?

This will be my final try, if there is anyone else who would want to join this, please speak up now and get a sheet to me.

i'll get something soon. I left my USB with my character sheet at work